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Community Garden a therapy tool for patients

14 March 2019

Redland Hospital’s beautiful new Community Garden is now home to native bee hives, bee hotels and a family of friendly gnomes.

The garden, the brainchild of PAH radiographer and MSH Community Garden coordinator Renae McBrien, was launched on International Women’s Day with the help of "womenpower" from three local Bunnings stores and Sarah Hamilton from Bee Yourself.

Renae, also a horticulturist, said she knew this type of space could be beneficial for patients and staff when she launched the PAH Community Garden two years ago.

"It’s an important part of the community and hospital and patient experiences and giving back to the wellness of staff," she said.

"The garden has been built from the ground up with support from Bunnings Victoria Point, Capalaba and Loganholme who donated plants and soil.

"Our spinal injury patients from the PAH also shared some of their plants from their community garden."

Renae said all the plants woud be maintained and sustained by Redland Hospital staff, patients and the community.

"The garden provides a sensory escape from hospital and a landscape that gives back to patients with smell, sight, sound and touch.

"We will include a fairy garden to engage children and there are bee hotels which are a crucial connection with Australian Indigenous culture and the rhythm of nature.

"Patients can watch the behaviours of the native bees in these amazing hives donated by Sarah Hamilton from Bee Yourself."

Renae said the garden was another component of person centred care and designed to be able to take patients out of the hospital environment and get them in touch with nature.

"It is a great therapy tool that can help with physical and mental rehabilitation as well as provide a social experience.

"We can prescribe nature to our patients – a chance to be outside to feel the sunshine and the breeze."

"It’s wonderful that Metro South Health sees how valuable investing back into the landscape is and how much it helps our patients."